Raymond E. "Ray" Childers

June 28, 1926 - January 4, 2021

Raymond "Ray" Childers, 94, of Kennesaw, GA, passed away on Monday, January 4, 2021 Marietta, GA. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 11 o'clock at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Powder Springs, GA with Dr. Philip May officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mountain View Park Cemetery in Marietta, GA. Raymond “Ray” Childers was born June 28, 1926 in Smithtown, Kentucy to Elizabeth Neal Childers and Elmer Childers. Ray’s love of music began at an early age. As a teenager he was a pianist for musical groups touring Eastern Kentucky and East Tennessee. He was a clerk and Store #1 at Stearns, Kentucky. Ray served in the Army during WW11 at Fort Dix and Fort Lee. He graduated from Georgetown College, Kentucky where he worked as assistant to the President. Ray met his wife Jean Bradley Childers while at Georgetown College. They were married on June 13, 1950 in Marion, North Carolina, and were married 64 years before her passing. Ray and Jean both graduated with Masters Degrees in Church Administration from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Ray served churches in Marietta, Georgia, Raleigh North Carolina, Brevard, North Carolina, and Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He most recently retired from Buckhead Baptist Church in Atlanta as church administrator. Ray was a court reporter for 24 years for the State Court of Fulton County and was also the owner of Childers & Shelnutt Court Reporting in Marietta, Georgia. Ray’s wife Jean worked alongside him as founder and first director of the Weekday Early Education program at First Baptist Church Marietta, as Financial Secretary at First Baptist Church in Brevard, N.C. They worked together at Buckhead Baptist Church where they served as Church Administrator and Financial Secretary for 20 years. Ray’s wife Jean was the office administrator at Childers & Shelnutt Court Reporting. Ray is survived by his son Neal Bradley (Elizabeth) Childers, granddaughter Maggie (Childers) Hess and Nick of Kennesaw. He is predeceased by his loving wife Jean Bradley Childers; sisters Wilma Risden and Virginia Foster. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Ray's name to Burnt Hickory Baptist Church Worship Arts Ministry - 5145 Due W Rd NW, Powder Springs, GA 30127, or Whitley City United Methodist Church - 65 State Hwy 1651, Whitley City, KY 42653 A visitation will be held on January 8, 2021 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Macland Chapel in Powder Springs, GA. Arrangements under the caring direction of Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home.